As we dive into Week 6 of the NFL, the league continues to deliver compelling narratives and thrilling matchups for football enthusiasts. Here are five things to keep an eye on this week:
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1. Eagles Soaring for a Rare Feat
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The Philadelphia Eagles, facing off against the New York Jets at 4:25 PM ET, aim to achieve a remarkable milestone. A victory would make them just the fifth team since 1970 to begin a season with a 6-0 record in consecutive years. This remarkable feat would put them in the elite company of the 1985-86 Chicago Bears, 1997-98 Denver Broncos, 1999-2001 St. Louis Rams, and 2005-07 Indianapolis Colts. Can the Eagles make history once again?
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2. Fields Chasing Records
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Chicago’s young quarterback, Justin Fields, is on fire, and he has a chance to etch his name in the record books. Fields, who faces the Minnesota Vikings at 1:00 PM ET, could become just the 8th player to throw four or more touchdown passes in three consecutive games within a single season. Joining the likes of Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Drew Brees, Patrick Mahomes, and Russell Wilson, Fields is on the cusp of something special. How will his performance affect fantasy football lineups?
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- Dr. Spak’s Take: START Justin Fields this week, the Vikings have lost their offensive star this week in Justin Jefferson and if it impacts their offense in a negative way their will be more opportunities for Fields. Fields has found chemistry with his top target DJ Moore and the Vikings are giving up the 7th most points of any defense in the league to Quarterbacks, giving up on average 22.2 points to QBs in standard leagues.
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3. Tackling Machines in Colts vs. Jaguars
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In the clash between the Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET, all eyes will be on the defensive prowess. Colts’ linebacker Zaire Franklin leads the NFL with an impressive 69 tackles this season. He’s recorded 12 or more tackles in each of his team’s last 5 games, a feat not seen since Zach Thomas in 2005. On the other side, Jaguars’ linebacker Foyesade Oluokun has led the league in tackles for two consecutive seasons. Expect some hard-hitting action in this game.
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- Dr. Spak’s Take: Often Leagues that start on defensive player takes the spot for granted but this player is a cheat code in that spot. While his 12 tackles a game are counted as combined (solo and assist) his still hasn’t had a game with under 7 solo tackles and in each game he adds another special stat (fumble recovery, sacks, pass def, or a tackle for loss). Find him and either pick him up, start him, or trade for him.
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4. Rookies Making Their Mark
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Three standout rookies are already making waves with 500+ scrimmage yards each through Week 5: Rams WR Puka Nacua (578), Dolphins RB Devon Achane (527), and Falcons RB Bijan Robinson (510). It’s a remarkable season for rookies in the NFL, as it’s only the second time since 1970 that three first-year players have achieved this milestone by Week 5. Could they continue their impressive run in Week 6, and how will Puka and Bijan perform in fantasy football this week? Achane was on a great run, his injury hurt a lot of teams as he was looking like a league winner prior to going on IR.
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5. Purdy’s Winning Streak
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San Francisco’s young QB, Brock Purdy, is looking to add another victory to his impressive record. Facing Cleveland at 1:00 PM ET, he can become the second QB to start his career since 1970 with 11 consecutive wins. Keep an eye on whether Purdy can extend his streak and join the ranks of second-year QBs who have achieved similar success.
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- Dr. Spak’s Take: Purdy will be a bit hard to trust this week if the Browns are at full strength. Their defense is really good when it comes to quarterbacks giving up on average only 11.5 fantasy points to Quarterbacks (standard scoring). However, Purdy has been good against top defenses against quarterbacks. He dismantled Dallas last week and they rank 5th against quarterbacks due to his performance against them. The Browns do an equally good job against the run (ranked as the 4th best defense at stopping fantasy running backs). This week will show if Purdy is Defense Proof, for this week though if there is an easier matchup, I’d explore it.
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Additionally, the resilience of Philadelphia QB Jalen Hurts, who has won 11 consecutive road starts, remains a remarkable story. With such a streak, he’s solidifying his position as one of the NFL’s most exciting young quarterbacks and with around 12 “tush push” touchdowns, he is definitely a must start every week in fantasy. Keep an eye on how Hurts and his Eagles perform in Week 6, and what it means for
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football enthusiasts looking to capitalize on his road-winning prowess.
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